The Brooklyn Nets entered Wednesday`s NBA Draft possessing an unusual number of high picks, holding five of the 30 first-round selections. This significant collection came about partly after they acquired the 22nd overall pick earlier in the week, participating as the third team in the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta.
Given that no team in NBA history had ever selected five players in the first round, it was widely anticipated that Brooklyn would engage in trading activity on draft night. They had ample assets that could have been used to move up in the draft for a specific prospect they favored, or they could have traded one or two later first-round picks to accumulate more future draft capital.
However, contrary to expectations and despite a flurry of trades taking place among teams picking in the teens and twenties, the Nets stood pat. By using all five of their first-round picks, they achieved an unprecedented milestone in NBA history, assembling the league`s first-ever five-player first-round draft class.
| Pick | Player | Position | School/Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Egor Demin | PG | BYU |
| 19 | Nolan Traore | PG | France |
| 22 | Drake Powell | SF | North Carolina |
| 26 | Ben Saraf | PG | Israel |
| 27 | Danny Wolf | PF | Michigan |
The Nets are currently not positioned to contend immediately in the 2025-26 season. Interestingly, their unique draft haul provides them with the never-before-seen option of potentially fielding a starting lineup composed entirely of first-round rookies at some point this upcoming season. The selection of Demin at pick #8 was notable, as he was not widely projected to be a top-10 prospect. In addition to him, they added two more lead guards in Traore and Saraf, alongside Danny Wolf, who possesses skills often associated with a point forward.
It will be fascinating to see how the Nets manage their roster through the remainder of the offseason. They might continue to move veteran players, particularly Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson, who are undoubtedly attracting significant trade interest from numerous teams around the league, further solidifying their commitment to a youth-focused rebuilding strategy.
Regardless of future roster decisions, the Nets undeniably etched their name into NBA history on Wednesday night with their unconventional draft approach. Fans now have an abundance of highlight videos and scouting reports to explore as they get acquainted with the team`s extensive group of new players.
Jasper Hawthorne